Deadline: October 14, 2025 

LOCATION: The Classic Center in Athens, GA

CONFERENCE DATES: January 29-31, 2026

Questions about this application? Please contact Dr. Rebecca Atkins, GMEA Research Chair

GMEA Research in Music Education and College Division is pleased to announce the call for proposals for spoken and poster research presentations at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference. Research studies exemplifying qualitative, quantitative, philosophical and historical methodologies will be considered for this session. Submissions of “Graduate Research” and “Action Research” completed by music educators in their classroom/rehearsal hall are also encouraged.

Students (undergraduate and graduate) and faculty are invited to submit abstracts describing completed or in-progress research pertaining to any aspect of music teaching and learning. Researchers whose work is selected are required to (a) register for and attend the GMEA Conference (researchers from out-of-state will receive complimentary registration), and for posters (b) prepare a visual display of their research, and (c) be available during the dedicated poster session to discuss their work with interested persons.

Posters will be displayed on traditional large poster boards in the Atrium of The Classic Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, January 31st. Posters can be up to 44’’ wide and 36’’ high. The dedicated poster session time slot from 11:15 AM-12:15 PM will provide opportunities for conference attendees to interact with researchers.

Submission abstracts are due by 11:59 p.m. on October 14, 2025 and should include a brief literature review, method, results, and discussion section with implications for music education. Abstracts will be blind peer-reviewed by a panel of music education researchers and authors will be notified in late November. If you have any questions, email Dr. Rebecca L. Atkins.

Please prepare an abstract (maximum of 300 words) that does not identify the author(s). Authors should explicitly state the purpose of the research, methodology including sample, questions or problems of the study, and how results (or anticipated results for in-progress work) relate to practice. Submissions not adhering to these guidelines will be automatically rejected.

Each room in The Classic Center will be equipped with an HDMI patch at the speaker's podium. Presenters should bring their own laptops, tablets, or smartphones with the appropriate adapter for the HDMI patch at the podium. There will be sound capabilities in every room. DVD players and CD players will not be available. 

Please answer the following carefully and thoroughly. These items will not be requested again and cannot be changed later. Please do not request items unless they are required for the success of the presentation.

GMEA strives to bring the most current and relevant clinicians and sessions to our In-Service Conference so that our members will have valuable new knowledge and ideas to take back to their classrooms and programs. We greatly appreciate the generosity of our sponsors in helping us make these sessions a reality. Is there a company that you are affiliated with that would be willing to sponsor or co-sponsor your sessions at the GMEA Conference? Your help in making your sessions a reality is greatly appreciated.

Please read the following and check the box below, signifying your understanding and acceptance of these terms and conditions. Your application cannot be submitted unless the terms and conditions are agreed to. 

• All presenters who are members of the music education community and teach and/or reside in Georgia must be current GMEA/NAfME members at the time of application and at the time of the conference and will be required to register for the conference at their own expense. No honorarium or reimbursement of any conference-related expenses can be paid to GMEA members.

• Session applications will be considered through the lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in music education for all students.

• Any handouts and materials used in the presentation of this session will be the responsibility of the presenter.

• GMEA cannot accept responsibility for the safety of any items belonging to the presenter, including, but not limited to, musical instruments, recordings, computers, computer projectors, printed music or other printed materials.

• Presentations cannot be videotaped or recorded without the prior written consent of GMEA and the presenter.

• The selection or rejection of clinic sessions is at the sole discretion of GMEA and its officers and employees.

• Neither GMEA nor The Classic Center can accept shipments of session materials prior to the conference.

• Presenters wishing to use computer-generated presentations must provide their own laptop and any projector connections specific to their brand of computer. All files should be accessible without the Internet. The Classic Center offers free, limited internet access, however GMEA cannot guarantee that it will accommodate the requirements of your presentation.

• GMEA cannot supply any musical instruments or other items (other than pianos, music stands, and the audio/visual equipment specified in this application).

• GMEA reserves the right to assign room space, date, and time to sessions accepted for presentation and the right to change these times and space assignments at their discretion up to thirty days prior to the first day of the conference.

Thank you for applying to present at the GMEA Conference! Please review your information and click the "Submit" button below. You will be taken to a confirmation page and will also receive a confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application.